Shape-retaining device for hats



Nov. 7, 1939. R. KNiBLOE SHAPE-RETAINING DEVICE FOR HATS Filed June 4, 1938 ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 7, 1939 I PATENT snare-RETAINING nnvrcn Foa HATS I Ralph L. Knibloe, Sharon, Conn. Application June 4, 1938, Serial No. 211,759

1 Glaimi (ci. 2 -1s5) This invention relates to shape-retaining devices for hats, and more particularly to devices adapted for example to retain the shape of the crown portion of hats made of pliable material such as soft felt.

The objects of the invention include the provision of a simple, inexpensive, eflective and (lur able device of the above indicated character which may be easily inserted in the hat. "in ac-- cordance with this invention such device may be formed for example of a layer of fibrous material so made or treated that it will have a firm rough surface for engaging the interior surface-- of the hat and therebypreventing displacement of the device. Furthermore, in accordancewith this invention, the device may be made cfan integral piece of material so formed or treated that it will permanently retain its shape, the shape being preferably such as to provide a-semi-- rigid bacln'ng for the front portions of the walls of the crown of the hat, whereby such portions are retained in a shape adapted to-be firmly gripped in one hand to remove the hat without crushing, unduly creasing, or otherwise deforming or damaging the felt and the appearance of the hat.

I am aware that various devices have heretofore been proposed for retaining the shape of felt hats,

but such devices so far as I am aware, have not come into practical use to any substantial extent, for the following reasons. It has been proposed, for example, that such devices be formed of a thin sheet of metal or of Celluloid, or the-like materials. But if such material is madethin enough to avoid being cumbersome, and stiff enough to be effective, it will crack upon repeated use. Furthermore, such devices of these materials quickly slip out of the desired position within the hat, inasmuch as the metal, Celluloid or the like will slide freely along the surface of materials gen" erally used for hats unless resort is had to the use of pins or the like mechanical retaining means, which in turn will mar the hat, destroy the desired smooth contours thereof, or involve dificulties in aflixing the same in position. Also, i such devices of sheet metal, Celluloid or the like,

soon cause the hat to be sharply creased along the rigid edges of the device, with the result, that the outline of the device is made visible from the exterior of the hat, or such edges out into and soon destroy the felt. Also crown supporting devices and mechanisms of irregular mechanical provide a rigid arcuate bacliing for the front walls of the crown of the hat, but'with such a backing it is substantially impossible for the user to quickly and securely grasp this portion for removing the hat in any convenient or natural ent invention serves to overcome in a simple manner all of these disadvantages of such prior devices.

Various further and more specific objects, features and advantages of this invention will clearly appear from the detailed description given below taken in connection-with theaccompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification and illustrates by way of example a preferred form of the invention. Theinvention consists in such novel features as maybe shown and described in connection with the device herein disclosed. i

In the drawing, Fig. 1 illustrates a common form of felt hat,'within which adevice made in accordance with the invention has been inserted; Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of a preferred form of device according to this invention Fig. 3 is a top view of the. device of Fig. S3; Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. l, but illustrating the application of the device toa somewhat differently shaped felt hat; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevational View taken substantially along the line 5-ii of Fig. 4..

Referring now to the drawing in further detail, the device it embodying this invention as shown,comprise an integral layercf fibrous material so treated or formed as to have a fun roughened surface which,'when applied against the interior surfaces of a felt hat, will firmly engage the latter and thereby prevent any slipping or sliding of the device out of its intended position. The device may'comprise an upstanding relatively stiff area i l for engaging the front and front portions of the side walls of the crown of the hat. The area ii at its lower edge may be inserted under the inside hat band it as shown in Fig. 5, so that when the hat is being worn, the

inside hat band will press against the device and retain it firmly against the insidewall of the hat along which the device cannot slip or slide,'in

View of the roughened character of its surface.

The lower edge if desired may be formed with extensions or tabs as at l2and E3 for-extending horizontally at either side, also in the space between the inside hat band and the lower edge of the crown of the hat. These tabs willserve to stantial angle, thus providing a vertically extend- 6o corresponding shape.

ing somewhat V-shaped or shallow channelshaped form. More specifically, the portions l4 and I5 may be formed with smooth depressions as shown, conforming generally to the positions of the thumb and forefinger of the wearers hand when grasping the front of the hat in removing the same. While the portions I4 and I5 may diverge to some extent away from the adjacent normally arcuate wall of the hat, and thereby afford a semi-rigid backing which may be easily gripped, yet such portions conform with sufficient closeness to the wall of the hat to prevent any substantial crushing of the front side-wall portions of the crown. That is, the resulting V- shape is such that, with slight flexure the front portion of the crown ofthe hat may be firmly grasped by one hand for removing the hat without danger that the felt will be so fiexed or crushed that it will not immediately revert to its proper position when released from the hand. Furthermore, the shallow-channel shape of the upstanding portion of the device serves to impart a further degree of rigidity to the device in a vertical direction without requiring that the device be made so stiff as to be uncomfortable to the wearer or disturb the desired contours of the hat. In addition, the V-shape permits a limited resiliency in horizontal directions when the front portion of the hat is grasped in the hand, enabling the hat-to be more securely held, but such resiliency causing the front side Wall portions to be forced back into normal position as soon as released from the hand.

In the usual felt hat the top front edge of the crown tends to soon become sharply creased, and certain shape-retaining devices heretofore proposed have been formed with a relatively sharp upper edge, tending to cause such creasing and the wearing or cutting of this area to be even more pronounced. In order to avoid this difficulty, I preferably form the upper edge of the device by bending the upper portion [6 thereof rearwardly and downwardly, so as to form a relatively smoothly curved upper edge I! against which the felt of the hat may be supported with out danger of sharp creasing, cutting or wear.

While various types of materials may be used in forming the device, either of one layer or laminated, as above indicated the material should preferably be somewhat resilient although sunficiently stiffened to permanently retain its characteristic shape as above described and with a permanent firm roughened surface. For these purposes I have foundthat highly satisfactory results may be obtained by using a layer of relatively thick nap flannel treated with a thermoplastic substance such as cellulose acetate or other ester of cellulose. For example, the nap flannel may be impregnated with a solution comprising 20 parts cellulose acetate and parts of a solvent such as denatured alcohol. The layer of material may then be dried when in fiat condition, and cut to the desired outline with a die. Thereupon the die-cut article may be placed upon a surface heated to a'temperature in the neighborhood of from to 200 F. When the device is thus thoroughly heated, it may be permanently shaped as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 by applying it to a cold metal form of The device when made of fibrous material thus treated with a thermoplastic substance, will satisfactorily retain its shape and stiffness at all temperatures customarily met with in the use of the device. Furthermore, the device will be uninjured by moisture whether due, to perspiration or rain. Yet the device will be. of a textile character somewhat porous and light in weight, and therefore does not incur any discomfort or inconvenience to the hat, upon long continued use, the location of the crease'of the crown tends to gradually shift to one side of the middle of the front portion of the hat, thus giving the hat an awkward appearance. I have found that this difiiculty is wholly avoided by the use of the above described shallow channel-shaped device.

Various other known fabric-stiffening treatments with other cellulose compounds, such for example as ethyl cellulose or other cellulose ethers or esters, may be substituted for the above described use of cellulose acetate. In some cases instead of using a nap flannel material, one may use an inexpensive form of burlap having a somewhat roughened surface after treatment with the thermoplastic material or the equivalent. If it is desired to use other textile materials such for example as buckram, they may in some cases be stiffened with cornstarch, but in such event a further coating of a Water-resistant or waterrepellant lacquer is preferably applied, the

lacquer also preferably including small rough particles which will impart a roughened character to the surface.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to certain particular preferred examples which give satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended, therefore, in the appended claim to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A shape-retaining device for hats having a flexible crown, said device being formed of a layer of fibrous material made relatively still with a moisture-resistant thermoplastic substance and having a firm rough surface for preventing displacement vvith respect to the interior surfaces of the hat, the device including a portion adapted for retention under the inside hat band, and an area for extending upwardlyfrom said portion substantially to the top front inside surface of the crown, the upper part of said area being bent over rearwardly to form a firm rounded upper edge, the side portions respec tively of said area being formed with rearward depressions for providing a semi-rigid backing for the front side walls of the crown of the hat, and of such shape that the latter may be firmly gripped in one hand to remove the hat without sharp creasing or crushing.

RALPH L. KNIBLOE. 

